Ajax players Ar’jany Martha, Naci Ünüvar, Rio Hillen, Mimeirhel Benita (Feyenoord) and Xavi Simons (PSG) have been expelled from the Oranje Under-19 squad, according to The Telegraph. That is why all five were absent from the match against Italy (0-3 loss) in Katwijk on Monday. The national coach, Bert Konterman, sent the five home because a girl had been present in the hotel room of two of them.
The girl was invited by Martha and Benita. Simons, Ünüvar and Hillen heard loud music coming from their teammates’ room while they played FIFA21 and went to see what was going on, but immediately returned to their room. However, they ran into a member of the national team’s staff, who informed Konterman of his “involvement.”
Solomon Bonnah (RB Leipzig), Youri Regeer (Ajax) and Emanuel Emegha (Sparta Rotterdam) would have indicated to Konterman that expelling all three would be unfair, but the Netherlands Under-19 national coach stood his ground. “Martha, Benita, Ünüvar, Hillen and Simons have broken the team bubble and, therefore, have been returned to their clubs. To prevent contagion within national teams there are protocols. A so-called ‘soccer bubble’ is being created and tests are also being carried out. In this way, the possibility of infections within a team is minimal, “a spokesperson told De Telegraaf.
Read also